brooklyn



W. DIETER. AuToMoBnE ToRPEDo.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8| l9l8.

1,303,044. I Patented May 6, 1919.

above stated, being normal UNITED sTATEs PATNT Trice.'

WILLIAM DIETER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY,OFA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A' CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMOBILE TOR-PEDO.

.ni-sm, such as the well-lmown gyroscopic steering mechanism. Thepurpose of theA invention is to make provision for inter? rupting thenormal steering after the torpedo has completed a predetermined portionvof its normali run and to thereupon cause the torpedo to steer in anapproximately circular course.

If, for example, an enemy iieet is at a distance of say 10,000 yardsfrom the torpedo boat from which the torpedo is to be launched, it isdesirable to have the torpedo steer the usual substantially straightcourse vfor approximately 10,000 yards and thereupon to steer a circularcourse, whereby the chance of its doing execution upon some one of theenemy ships is greatly increased. Heretofore, the torpedo being aimed tosteer a straight course, has had only one chance or opportunity forhitting its target; if it missed the target it would continue to travelin t-he same direction and unless some other ship chanced'to be in itsline of travel beyond, the torpedo shot was wasted. But, by causing thetorpedo to steer a circular course in the zone or region occupied by theenemy ships, its chance of hitting one or more ships is greatlyincreased.

This desideratum has been heretofore recognized and means have beenproposed for accomplishing this result, but such means have not beensuch as to render them practicable 'in View of the exigencies ofWarfare. The present invention provides improved means for accomplishingthe object such as to render the performance of the torpedo more certainand to facilitate its accurate adjustment to the desired course.According to the present invention, instead of providing meansextraneous to the steering mechanism for locking the rudder when hardover to either side, or otherwise dominating the steering function so asto force-the torpedo to steer a curved Specification of Letters Patent.Application led February 8, 1918. Serial No. 216,102.

-point of launching Patented Mayo, 1919.

course, the steering mechanism is so modified and controlled as to first`function in its normal;x manner until aA predetermined range isreached, and thereupon to accomplish the steering of the circular coursefor the remainder of the run of the torpedo. This may be variouslyaccomplished, a suitable means therefor being herewith illustrated.

Figure 1 of the iaccompanying drawings is -a diagram vshowing the course-of the torpedo;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the. after portion of the torpedo,.illustrating the application of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a 'transverse section thereof looking aft, the section beingin the plane of.'

the line 3-3 in4 Fig. 2; I Y

Fig. i-'is a plan of part ofthe steering mechanism on a larger scale,partly in horizontal, longitudinal mid-section;

ig. 5 is ,va sideA elevation lof the same mechanism, partly' in verticalmid-sectiong Fig. 6 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 3,

being partly in vertical transverselsection;-

Fig. 7 is an enlargement of the cam wheel and connections shown in Fig.f2, Withthe air valve in longitudinal mid-section;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the setting scale on the outside of thetorpedo hull.

Referring first to Fig. 1, A designates a launching tube `and Bdesignates the course of a torpedo launched therefrom. The iig# ures41,000, 10,000 and 15,000 marked on this course may be taken asindicating yards or meters. B1 indicates to a magnified scale) acircular course ,which may be steered by the torpedo, which in this casecommences at 4,000 yards. B2 in dotted lines indicates a similarcircular course which may commence at 1000 yards.4 These figures areAgiven as illustrations, since the circular course may begin at any pointafter a suit-Y able interval in the run' of the torpedo sutlicienttocarry it far-enough away from the to avoid danger to the which it islaunched, or same fieet. In the illustration given. 15,000 yards isassumed as the total normal straight run of the torpedo. The full linesshow the launching of the torpedo in the normal manner by aiming thelaunching tube at the target. The diagram shows in dotted lines at theleft, the case of the so-called angle fire in which thi-iter.- pedotube, indicated at A', is aimed .linatorpedo boat from other vessels ofthe direction removed by a given number of degrees Afrom the' ultimatestraight course B of the torpedo, the steering mechanism being settosteer through the circular arc indicated at a, which continues until thetorpedo has been steered through an arc of the prescribed number ofdegrees, whereupon gram is therefore the general course steered, I

being the mean of the successive arcs or sinuosities, which would beimperceptible in il diagram on the scale here given.

The object of the present invention is to providejsuch construction ofsteering mecha- 'nism as Willenable the torpedo to be .launched in thenormal manner either for direct fire or angle fire, and to provide thatafter ithas traversed a minimum portion of its course(her`e assumed tobe 4000 yards) it may be caused thereafter, at any desired point in therun, to abandon its normal straight course and steer a 'circular coursesuch as .shown at Bl or B2. The point in the course at which .thecircular steerfing begins is determined by the actual or estimateddistance of the target, so that .the circular course steered by thetorpedo shall coincide as nearly as possible with the location or courseof the enemy ship or Heet and enable the torpedo to repeatedly traversesuch course, thereby correspondingly multiplying its chance of doingexecution.

Referring to Fig. 2, C designates the propellershaft or shafts fordriving in the usual manner the propeller screws which turn in contrarydirections. D designates, as a whole, the usual gyroscopic steeringmechanism, which comprises a steering engine E (or any other equivalentsteering mechanism) which, through the usual actuating rod or tilleri'od operates the tiller c for turning the rudders (l. Compressed airfrom the air flask passes through a pipe f to a pressure-reducing valveg, and thence `at .reduced pressure by pipe i to the usual superheaterF, and thence by pipe c' to the engine, which latter (not shown) may bea reciprocating engine or turbine, as preferred. The engine drives inthe usual manner the propeller shaft C. All of the parts',

y thus far referred to are customary in torpedoes and' may be of theusual or any suitable, construction, and form no part of the presentinvention.

The present invention requires first sonie suitable form of timing orreducing mechanism foi,Z bringing about the initiation of the steeringof the circular course at any desiredpoint in the run of the torpedo,and

3 so that this period may be determined by the operator before thelaunching of the torpedo. In the construction shown, the timingmechanism consists simply of atrain of gearing in the specific formshown.coinprisinga worm 4 on. the propeller shaft C,

a worm-wheel 5 driven thereby carrying on its shaft a Worm 6 which inturn drives a Worm-wheel 7 on the shaft of which is a Worm 8 whichdrives a worm-wheel 9), this train terminating in a revolving cam Ghaving a cam 'projectionor tooth j which at the predetermined point inits revolution actuates the mechanism .for ldetermining the circlesteering.

F or accomplishing the circle steering acthe rudder to one side and holdit there during the period of steering such circular course. Obviously,this result may be accomplished in various ways, as, for example, by`

discontinuing the alternate movements of the steering engine or by sodominating the lat- `ter that its continued alternate movements orefforts are impotent to throw the rudder. A simple and easily appliedmeans for accomplishing the desired result is that'shown in theaccompanying drawings, which involves the application of mechanicalmeans for holding the tiller when thrown to one side l,and preventingits being afterward operated or thrown hack by the action of thesteering engine. This means is very simple in its application andinvolves no interference with the normal operation of the steer- .ingengine under attempted control of the' gyroscope, and hence involves nochange in the construction of the steering engine or gyroscopic steeringmechanism.` The circle steering mea-ns therefore simply dominates andovercomes the normal action ofthe steering mechanism, and forcibly holdsthe rudder hard over (or partially so) to either side so as to steer acircular course in the corresponding direction. While this result may heaccpmplished by the application of various mechanical means,

the simplest, most easily controlled, and most positive and elective inits operation is by means operated hy compressed air, To this end aspecial air valve is provided which is operated by the cam projection toadmit the air at the proper instant to vexert its dominating effect toovercome the no1-mal its active position (shown in fu engine J is heldin the pressed air.

Steering. The preferred construction of this apparatus will now bedescribed.

The air valve vH receives air at reduced pressure from the low pressureside of the reducer g through a pipe c. This valve is normally closed,but when opened by the cam j it admits compressed air through a pipe Zto a compressed'air cylinder J which is suitably "mounted in anyconvenient location Within the torpedo. The piston'J of this-cylinder isnormally retracted by the spring m. l' Its piston rod carries theeffec-'ve circle ,steering element K which isfto act directly or indirectlyupon the tiller c. In the construction shown th element K is a Wedge,preferably a double or bifurcated Wedge, which embraces the tiller rodand, when projected from its normal ositvion to l lines in Fig. 5) actsupon a collar or ,projection n on said rod and thrusts this collar inone direction or'the other to thereby throw over the rudder. The airpressure engine J is made to dominate the steering engine E, either bymaking it of larger area or-'in any other convenient manner. The wedgemem- 'ber K is'shown as supported against a fixed support p' whichreceives the reaction of the wedging thrust.

The air valve H is specially constructed to avoidjany derangement due toleakage. The valve casing g incloses a chamber 1' to which compressedair is constantly admitted through the port lla', the outlet throughport Z is closed by a diaphragm s of thin metal or other puncturablematerial which, under the operation of the cam projection j, is

punctured by means of a spur t carried by av plunger u which is normallyretracted by a spring 1 5. The escape of air around the plunger uisprevented by a packing c which s held seated in the inactive conditionof the valve. The diaphragm s is carried by a re` movable member Q ofthe valve casing, which is shown as a screw plug, the diaphragm -beingpreferably soldered thereto. It results that the compressed air isreliably sealed off by the diaphragm from access to the pipe Z andengine J until the spur is operated to puncture this diaphragm, whereiupon the compressed air rushes through and operates the engine J;

and thereafter the position shown in Fig. 5 by the continued action ofthe comair valve H affords an important safeguard. against prematureoperation of the circle steering mechanism by preventing any possibilityof leakage of compressed air into the cylinder J.

To enable the operator to determine at what point in the run A simpleway of'accomphslnng this 1s to provide that The described constructionof i of the torpedo the circle steering shall begin, the timing mech--anism is made adjustable at will.

and simple operation which may.

thecam G may be turned at the outset to any desired position so as to,cause its cam projection j to traverse any required pal't of itscircular course before acting upon` the valve stem u. To? this end thetiming mechanism is, so proportioned that the cam G will execute notover one complete revolution 'during the entire maximum course of thetorpedo. If this course is 15,000 yards, for example, the gear 9carrying thecam G may be proportioned to execute one revolution in15,000, or somewhat over 15,000 yards. If the circle steering iscommenced at, say, 4,000 yards, the cam G has to be set initiallyprojection j to a corresponding fraction of the total circular movementin -advance of the operative movement of the stem u; if the circlesteering is to begin at any later point in the course, the cam has to be'set that much farther back. Such-setting is accomplished by theoperator before launching the torpedo and is determined by aid of ascale marked on the exterior. The operator has first to disconnect thecam With the gear 9, then turn it to the required position, and thenre-connect it With this gear. For acto bring its complishing this themeans best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are provided.

The cam G is connected to a spindle w which passes out through a fittingm in the hull of the torpedo and has on its outer end a head w which hasa square socket or is otherwise shaped to be engaged by a key or wrenchfor turning it and also for drawing it back to the position shown in FiG. When so drawn back it pulls the cam G out of its normal position andwithdraws a pin 10 carried by the cam from one of a .series ofholes 11formed in the gear 9.

These holes are spaced apart a distance corresponding, for example, to1000 yards in the run of the torpedo, or any other convenient spacing.In this Withdrawn position the cam may be turned by turning the head wuntil it is brought to the required position. This is determined by apointer y on the'head fw which traverses a circular graduated scale z(Fig. 8) which is marked on the rim of the iitting 'On this scale thezone 2', shown in black in Fig. 8, is that portion under, for example,4000 yards, within which it is unsafe to start the circle steering andwhich may be deemed, therefore, a forbidden zone. Beyond this it may beset to any point between 4,000.yards and 15,000 yards. When turned tothis position, the operator then pushes back the head wand therebyrestores the cam G to its normal position, its pin entering thecorresponding one of the holes 11 Which it finds alined with it. Thus,lby a very quick be performed at any time before the launching of thetorpedo, the operator determines at what point in its straight course itshall de- Which is Wholly housed within the torpedo and acts upon therudders through the medium of their tiller. Further, the mechanism isconstructed to operate with the utmost precision and certainty. It is ofsuch construction that it can by no possibility interfere with thenormal steering .operationl in case circle steering is not desired, andso that when set for circle steering the latter cannot beginprematurely.

' What I claim is y 1. In a torpedo ycomprising propelling and automaticsteering mechanism, means for causing the torpedo, after traversing' apredetermined fraction of its normal run, to then steer a curved course,such meansv coniprisinga timing device 4for bringing it into action at a,determined point in the run of the torpedo, and a controlling means forholding the rudder to one side.

2. In a torpedo accord-ing to claim 1, the controlling means adapted toystop the steeringaction of the normal steering mechanim, whereby tohold the' rudder to one si e. 3. lIn a torpedo according to claim 1, thecontrollingV means adapted to dominate and overcome the normal steeringaction of the steering mechanism and thereby tohold the rudder to oneside. V

4. In a torpedo according to claim l1, the controlling meanspneumatically operated.

5. In a torpedo according to claim l, the

v controlling means comprising a compressed lair engine, with an airvalve operated from l the timing device to operate said engine.

6. In a torpedo according to claims l and 5, said compressed air engineadapted to dominate and prevent the operationof the normal steeringmechanism.

7." v'In lziltorpedo according to claim l, said controlling meanscomprising a mechanical device actin between the steering mechanism andtil er.

'timing device comprising a reducing train device being a rotatablyadjustable cam.

1l. In a torpedo according to claim 9, means for axially displacingtheterminal and 9 the terminal member of said timin member whereby to varyits rotative engage- 4 ment With the train.

12. In a torpedo according to claim 9, al1

indicating means on the exterior of the torpedo for ascertaining theangular arrangement of the terminal member.

13. In a torpedoaccording to. claim 1, said controlling means beingpneumatically actuated under control orl a valve operated by -the timingdevice, such valve comprising a pnnctiirable sealing means and a devicefor puncturing such sealing means.

14. In a torpedo'accordin to claim 13, such valve comprising af-tliiniaphragm and a reciprocating plungerarrying a spur for punctui-ing suchdiaphragm.

15. In a torpedo according to claim 14:, i

said valve plunger having a stein passing out through its casing and apacking for preventing leakage around said. stein, and

a .spring holding said plunger normally retracted with said packingseated.

1G. A torpedo comprising means to alter@ I its movement, fluid operatedmeans to control the said movement altering means, and means to rendersaid fluid operated means inoperative and to actuate said movementaltering means, substantially as specied.

17. A torpedo comprising a ruddeigan actuating rod operatively connectedto said lrudder, fluid operated means to control the movement of saidactuating rod, and means to render said fluid operated means mop#erativc andto move said actuating rod, substantially as specified.

18.' A torpedo comprising propelling means, a rudder, an' actuating rodoperatively connccted to said rudder, fluid operated means to controlthe movement of said actuating rod, and means controlled by saidpropelling means to render said -iuid operated means inoperative and tomove aid a '"f;uating rod, substantially as Aspeciied.

In witness` whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

VILLIAM DIETER.-

